Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
october 2016

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White House issues executive order addressing space weather

October 13, 2016

On October 13, 2016, President Obama released an executive order addressing space weather hazards in the U.S. The order lays out the roles federal agencies must play to mitigate space weather and explains how agencies should coordinate across sectors and all levels of government in case of an emergency. The agencies listed in the executive order include the Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Under the executive order, federal agencies are required to develop prediction tools for space weather events, coordinate communication plans to notify the public in case of an emergency, and establish community-based mitigation efforts to build resilient community infrastructure.

The order requires NSF to support scientific research to better inform space weather mitigation and increase public awareness. It requires NASA to implement a national research program to support the development of space weather forecasting computer models, technology, and sustain overall space weather research.

Each agency is required to submit an initial assessment report on the executive order within 60-120 days of the order’s release.

Sources: The White House Office of the Press Secretary

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum hosts space weather panel

October 26, 2016

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum hosted a panel on October 25 to discuss advances in space weather research and forecasting. The panel highlighted NASA’s STEREO program, which uses two orbiting satellite probes to produce a three-dimensional image of the sun. The program is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

At the panel event, NASA scientists explained how detailed images of the sun can help us determine the habitability of other planets and prepare for potentially hazardous space weather events on Earth.

According to panelists, images of coronal mass ejections, or explosions of plasma from the sun’s surface that originate from magnetic field disturbances, can be used to determine the habitability of planets. The more exposure a planet has to coronal mass ejections, the less habitable it is because of the increase in harmful cosmic radiation, which has been linked to cancer. One panelist outlined the risks this radiation could pose to astronauts traveling to Mars, which has a much thinner atmosphere than Earth and it is more vulnerable to cosmic radiation.

Additionally, data from the STEREO program could be used in the future to provide real-time space weather forecasts by monitoring sunspots, which indicate magnetic anomalies.

Sources: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum 

White House highlights small satellite technology innovation and entrepreneurship

October 21, 2016

The White House announced a new initiative to identify and establish programs to drive innovation using small satellite (smallsat) technology. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will lead the Harnessing the Small Satellite Revolution initiative in collaboration with NASA, the Department of Commerce (DOC), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and other federal agencies.  

As a part of this initiative, NASA will establish a Small Spacecraft Virtual Institute housed at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. This institute will serve as a hub of technological information on small spacecraft technology, and will promote programs, opportunities, and best practices on the subject. In addition, NASA proposes spending up to $30 million to purchase Earth science observational datasets from non-governmental small satellites.

Also as a part of the initiative, the DOC’s Office of Space Commerce will advise decision makers on critical policy issues affecting the commercial space industry, such as smallsat licensing issues; and the NGA will partner with the General Services Administration to establish a central database where individuals can access and purchase commercially-provided imagery, data, analytical capabilities, and services.  

Sources: CNN News, White House Office of the Press Secretary